Driving lights P38

OK so it is getting to that dark time of year, and I decided to stick some [ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/CHROME-SPOTLIGHTS-ANGEL-DRIVING-LAMPS/dp/B001BU9FN6/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1289636081&sr=8-20"]driving lights [/ame]on the bull bar.
I didn't realise it when I bought them, but they have LED rims round the outside, so would like to have them on all the time, so the question is...

1) Does anyone have a good way of wiring up driving lights on a P38?
2) If I want to use the LED rims, do I just tap into the sidelight loom to run power to the LEDs and set the BECM to always have the lights on (I have a Faultmate MSV), or do I do it another way.

Electrickery is NOT my forte as you can guess...

1) power from battery thru relay triggered by main beam circuit.
2) yes

The Mad Hat Man said:

1) power from battery thru relay triggered by main beam circuit.
2) yes

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Thank Mad Hat for the quick reply - so I can just plumb a 30amp relay through the main beam and power the driving lights through that via the battery and a fuse - got it!

Yeah - a fuse might be useful

Only thing is - it mite confuse p38 bulb out sensing. Don't know enuff about them to be sure.

The Mad Hat Man said:

Yeah - a fuse might be useful

Only thing is - it mite confuse p38 bulb out sensing. Don't know enuff about them to be sure.

Click to expand...

Only one way to find out....

the old spot lights i had on mine were just wired to the main beam, rather crudely too. it never showed an error on the dash!!

magictiny said:

Only one way to find out....

Click to expand...

The BECM should not notice the tiny additional load of a relay across the main beam bulbs, I'm pretty sure in any case it only notices under current that rather than over current.

You are right, fitted them with a relay linked to the main beam - the BECM didn't notice.

Fitting a relay will not upset the Becm and is the way to go when fitting additional lighting. Relays are available with fuse socket "Built in".. The headlamp bulbs on my P38 have been uprated to 130/80W for years now and I have had no problems with wiring overheating etc., the adjacent main beam bulbs are also uprated to 100W.

Is that wattage legal in Ireland then?

The usual setup in Ireland is to only have one headlight working and the cops don't give a toss, even when you think it's a motor bike coming the other way. The car is M.O.T'd over here and I have never had a problem...the tester is looking for correct alignment and not brilliance.
In Ireland, learner drivers are supposedly not allowed to drive on their own but the cops turn a blind eye and the Insurers still cover them 3rd party.
The only way the cops would stop you is to congratulate you for having all your lights working as it's the exception rather than the rule !!
Never had a problem in the UK either.

Don't ask about the MOT and me living in Ireland, the people who know me are aware of the reasons.